The cause of Melioidosis - burkholderia pseudomallei - is a highly pathogenic bacterium commonly found in soil and water in South and Southeast Asia and northern Australia
Research into the little-known but deadly bacterial disease Melioidosis has revealed millions of people are at threat.
Also known as Whitmore's disease, the illness is caught from skin contact, inhaling or by drinking contaminated water infected with a bacteria, burkholderia pseudomallei.
The particularly pathogenic bacteria is commonly found in soil and water in South and Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Now researchers say it is highly likely the bacteria is far more widespread, is probably prevalent in at least 79 countries and infects about 165,000 people each year, of which 89,000 die.
They say this discovery means many millions of people are at threat, and have identified all countries in Southeast Asia and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South America as being at risk.
The team says little research has been done previously because the disease, which can infect the lungs, blood and nervous system, is difficult to diagnose.
"Melioidosis is a great mimicker of other diseases," Direk Limmathurotsakul, co-author of the report in Nature Microbiology and Head of Microbiology at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit in Bangkok told Al Jazeera.
"The bacteria needs to be diagnosed by being cultured, for which you need microbial facilities, but they are rarely available in developing countries where resources are limited."
Without adequate treatment the researchers say fatality rates can exceed 70 percent.
Putting the annual death toll of the disease at 89,000 makes Melioidosis almost as deadly as measles, which kills about 95,000 people each year, and many times more deadly than dengue which kills around 12,500 annually.
There is no vaccine for the disease and treating it is complex and expensive because it is resistant to some antibiotics.
"It has been greatly under-estimated as an important public health problem across the world,” said Dr Limmathurotsakul.
"Our study predicts high infections rates in countries like India and Vietnam, where the disease is gradually being recognised more frequently."
The team are recommending better diagnosis, prevention campaigns and for health workers, international health organisations and policy makers to give it a higher priority.
Also known as Whitmore's disease, the illness is caught from skin contact, inhaling or by drinking contaminated water infected with a bacteria, burkholderia pseudomallei.
The particularly pathogenic bacteria is commonly found in soil and water in South and Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Now researchers say it is highly likely the bacteria is far more widespread, is probably prevalent in at least 79 countries and infects about 165,000 people each year, of which 89,000 die.
They say this discovery means many millions of people are at threat, and have identified all countries in Southeast Asia and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South America as being at risk.
The team says little research has been done previously because the disease, which can infect the lungs, blood and nervous system, is difficult to diagnose.
"Melioidosis is a great mimicker of other diseases," Direk Limmathurotsakul, co-author of the report in Nature Microbiology and Head of Microbiology at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit in Bangkok told Al Jazeera.
"The bacteria needs to be diagnosed by being cultured, for which you need microbial facilities, but they are rarely available in developing countries where resources are limited."
Without adequate treatment the researchers say fatality rates can exceed 70 percent.
Putting the annual death toll of the disease at 89,000 makes Melioidosis almost as deadly as measles, which kills about 95,000 people each year, and many times more deadly than dengue which kills around 12,500 annually.
There is no vaccine for the disease and treating it is complex and expensive because it is resistant to some antibiotics.
"It has been greatly under-estimated as an important public health problem across the world,” said Dr Limmathurotsakul.
"Our study predicts high infections rates in countries like India and Vietnam, where the disease is gradually being recognised more frequently."
The team are recommending better diagnosis, prevention campaigns and for health workers, international health organisations and policy makers to give it a higher priority.
Source: Al Jazeera
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